Networked freezer stocking management

• US 8,328,438 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2012
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spinnaker Process Instruments
• Original Assignee: Spinnaker Process Instruments
• Inventors: Johnson, Thomas H., Johnson, Carrol E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Perkey, W. B.
• Application Number:
  US13/416,859
• Publication Number:
  US 20120227423A1
• Time in Patent Office: 277 Days
• Field of Search: 177/5, 621/29, 396/427, 396/429
• US Class Current: 396/427
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 5/18 Storing ice
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A system for an ice merchandiser having a compressor in a compressor enclosure to cool the ice merchandiser includes a sensor disposed within the ice merchandiser, and a communications component disposed within the compressor enclosure and coupled to the sensor to receive signals from the sensor representative of the amount of ice in the ice merchandiser, wherein the communications component is configured to convert the received signals to a digital format and publish the signals via a network connection.

Claims

1. A system for an ice merchandiser having a compressor in a compressor enclosure to cool the ice merchandiser comprises:

a sensor disposed within the ice merchandiser; and

a communications component disposed within the compressor enclosure and coupled to the sensor to receive signals from the sensor representative of the amount of ice in the ice merchandiser, wherein the communications component is configured to convert the received signals to a digital format and publish the signals via a network connection.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a camera and a heating element proximate a lens of the camera.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the sensor further comprises a housing surrounding at least the lens of the camera, and wherein the heating element comprises a light emitting diode within the housing.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the light emitting diode is positioned to heat air within the housing to remove condensation from the lens and to provide light to illuminate an inside of the ice merchandiser.

5. The system of claim 4 and further comprising a controller to turn on the light emitting diode to remove condensation, and to control the camera to provide images while the diode is on.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the camera and light emitting diode are supported by a circuit board.

7. The system of claim 2 wherein the sensor further comprises a housing surrounding at least the lens of the camera, and wherein the heating element comprises a heating wire configured to facilitate capture of images of the ice merchandiser.

8. The system of claim 2 wherein the camera lens provides at least a 70 degree view of the inside of the ice merchandiser.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the camera lens is angled to provide a view of an entire floor of the ice merchandiser.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the communications component comprises a web server and a wireless network connection.

11. A device comprising:

a weight scale adapted to be placed in an ice merchandiser to substantially cover a desired portion of the floor corresponding to stacked bags of ice; and

a system to receive signals from the weight scale representative of the weight of the ice bags, convert the signals to digital, and publish the signals via a network connection.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the system comprises a web server coupled to the weight scale.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the system is located in a container that includes a compressor for the ice merchandiser.

14. The device of claim 13 and further including a second weight scale adapted to be placed in the ice merchandiser to substantially cover a second desired portion of the floor corresponding to stacked bags of ice.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the scales are adapted to measure the number of bags of ice on them, wherein different size bags of ice are placed on each scale.